Power over matter
Although there are always exceptions to the rule, raising your DPS (damage per second) is
a priority if you’re aiming to level quickly. There are four attributes in Guild Wars 2 (power,
precision, vitality, toughness) but only two of them directly increase your damage output.
When given an option on what item to receive after story missions and when looking for new
gear on the trading post try to aim for a mix of power and precision. Depending on which class
you play one may be even more beneficial than the other, but a mix of both is a safe bet.
The more the merrier
Guild Wars 2 is designed around the concept that competition doesn’t breed a healthy leveling
environment. As a result, you can help others kill mobs and still receive full experience gains
after the enemy is taken down. The quickest way to earn experience is to try and group with
other players and roll through zones carving a path through everything that gets in your way.
Live off the land
Crafting and gathering are rewarded heavily. Make sure you’re always carrying plenty of
mining picks, logging axes, and harvesting sickles so when you run across a node you can take
advantage of it. When you feel you have a hefty amount of materials lying around head to the
nearest city and pick up a couple of professions of your choice. Use the materials you gathered
to craft a handful of items and watch that experience bar fill up like it’s nothing.
Bling bling
Every bit of damage counts and a single jewel can increase your power and precision by upward
of 10 or even 20 points. You can find jewels and sigils for free while gathering, or you can
purchase them for a reasonable price on the trading post. Whatever the case, make sure all
applicable gear is gemmed for damage. Keep in mind that the level of the item you apply a
jewel or sigil to must meet the requirement indicated.
Stay on the move
Tons of experience is earned from exploring, completing vistas, gathering, and finding points
of interest. If you’re standing around then you’re missing out on an opportunity to earn free
experience points. There are several zones available for each level, so you’re best off relocating
to another one if you find yourself stalling.
Dungeons and WvW are inefficient
Sometimes a break is in order, and Guild Wars 2’s variety of dungeons and compelling WvW
environment are a great way to break the monotony. However, neither grants enough
experience to be considered efficient, so if you’re in a hurry to hit 80 then avoid anything but
outdoor leveling areas and story missions at all costs.
Story missions are your friend
Every couple levels a new story mission will open up to you. Story missions take anywhere from
10-45 minutes, but all of them grant a significant amount of experience in addition to powerful
gear. If you get stuck on a particular mission ask a friend or guild-mate for help, but don’t
neglect the missions because they’re your friend.
Use your collectible inventory
There are so many items in Guild Wars 2 you’ll be dying for a U-Haul by the time you’re level
15. However, ArenaNet was kind enough to create a storage area separate from the bank and
personal inventory called collection where components used to craft, jewels, and more can
be stored. All you have to do is open your inventory, click the gear toward the top-right of the
panel and then ‘Send to collection’. Voila! You’re no longer carrying 200 lbs of gear!
Don’t die
This might sound obvious but nothing breaks your momentum more than dying. Use dodge to
avoid massive attacks, kite if needed, and don’t pull more enemies than you can deal with.
Check out our Guild Wars 2 review and don't forget to join the GR GW2 community in this forum thread.
Explore the galaxy in the franchise's first open-world game.
